:7!B Lake No — Bot.

Place. Description.

Abu Kiik.1 Kanisa ...

Lake Powendael Boit 37 II 40 40 £9.3 i71 304 J,89 344 553 384 6/r Vidf alao j«ge 144.

is now the chief Nile post of tiie Cahr EI Ghazal province, and fiom here proceeds the road inland to Rumbek (116 miles), &c. Tlie river winds round the lake for some 8 miles, separated from it by a band of maish, about 600 yards broad. Large quantities of hippopotami. To the cast the swamp stretches for a long way ; at miles 2.')5 and 256 are two other outlets of the Zeraf River. The aspect of the landscape is extremely desolate, with papyrus- covered marshes stretching in all directions. The river itself alternates between long straight reaches or ensy curves, and a series of sharp twists and bends, which form a regular maze through the swamps. The watei' surface is covered with masses of detjiohed plants of the PUtia (or sword grass) utratiotes. The mean velocity is 2 miles per ho\ir ; the average depth is 15 feet ; and the average width from r>0 to GO yards. l<"or many miles the same dreary scenery prevails. The river recedes a long way from the western forest, and on both sides an expanse of reeds and water extends. The width of the swamped area here cannot be less tli.an .30 miles. At mile 2!)3 Abu Kuka, north latitude 6° 54', is reached. The papyrus swamp ceases just north of this point. Here the forest appioaches the river, and the bank is dry. The thick bush comes down to the water edge, the trees being about 1,500 yards away. The village of this name is iidand, and is not visible from the livei'. At miles 300 and 304, the old and new wooding stations of Kanisa are respectively situated on the west bank. Kanisa or "Heiligen Kreuz,'' north latitude 6° 46', is the site of the Austrian Mission which was located here for many yeai-s. The church and buildings were situated on the eastern bank, only a foot oi- two above the watei', but tlieir traces are no longer visible. A large fruit garden formerly existed on the west bank, but only two large shady trees are still alive. This Mission was abandoned in 1864 or 186.5, on account of the deadly effects of the climate. The only inhabitants now are a few ]>inka. The foiest is very thick and consists of Sidr, other acacias, and a few Euphorbia. This forest is continuous as far as the banks of the Rohl, some 60 miles to the west. Immediately uji-stream of Kanisa, the river wanders away into the swamps as before. From this point, to n)ile 343, there is little to describe. Tlie banks on both sides are very flat and rarely more than 2 feet above low water level. The papyrus now practically ends. Occasional clumps are to be seen, but nowhere in continuous masses. Tamarisk is common. The spills from the river into the marshes are very numerous, more particularly on the east bank. A line of trees on the eastern horizon, some 7 to 10 miles away, appears to mark the limits of the swamp. It is easy to see how the Bahr El Zeraf marshes are formed. At every few hundred yards the river s])ills into them. These spill channels are dee])ly cut, with vertical sides, as if dug by hand, and the amount of water discharged by them in flood must be very great. In size they vary C')nsideiably. Their average breadth is from 3 to 5 yards, but some are as much as 16 yards wide. Between miles 303 and 379, 129 spills were counted, of which 97 were on the east bank. Probably many more escaped observation.* At mile 344 the large lagoon, known as Lake Powendael, commences on the west. The river circuits this lake for 4 or 5 miles, separated from it by a belt of swamp, vaiying in width from a few hundred to 2,000 j'ards. Lake Powendael is in many i)laces as much as 3,000 yards in breadth, but is very shallow. Its surface is dotted with many small islands, and it is connected with the river by several inlets. Hippopotami are abundant in these jmrts. Both banks are now very low and flat, about 10 inches over the water. The reach of the river between Bor and Kanisa is unendurably desolate and monotonous, wandering through continual swamp for some KX) nnlet'. At mile 360 another large lake is met with, also on the west. This sheet of water must be quite 4 miles in breadth, and the river winds round it for a long distance in a series of very sharp curves. Many natives are to be seen fishing here. At mile 374 a welcome change appeara, as a limit is at last visible to the eastern swamps, which are practically continuous from Lake No to this point. A line of villages (l)inka) stands 2 miles from the river, and behind them lies the forest. A little further up-stream the.se villages approach nearer, until at last, at mile 380 from Lake No the high land on the east comes down to the river.

Bor, north latitude 6° 12' 46", is a collection of I inka villages which i-tietch noithwards (outside the swamp) almost to the Bahr El Zeraf. The forest here stands back from the river on the east bank, but the high bank comes elo.se to the water, excei)t where a large backwater or lagoi n passes through it for some 2,000 yards. Gordon mentioned this place as an inconvenient wooding station, but it is very handy now. A few tall delcib jialms stand out as land marks. The houses of Bor are neither large nor important, but like in all Dinka villages they are well-kept, neat, and clean. 1'he huts are circular in shape. They are plastered with mud and have conical thatched roofs. Each has a small door + I'or fuller de8crii)lion of Bor and its people vide page 144.